Johannesburg - A former South African ambassador to Brazil was shot dead at his home in De Deur, south of Johannesburg, in the early hours of Friday, police said.
The 63-year-old man was killed after two armed men broke into his house around 2am, Captain Doniah Mothutsane said.
She said the man's name would only be released after police were sure that all of his next of kin had been told of his death.
The robbers demanded cellphones from the former ambassador's brother and demanded to be taken to all the bedrooms. They took R950, a watch, an iPad and four cellphones.
The former ambassador threw a stone at the robbers as they were leaving.
“One of them turned around and shot him once in the chest. He died on the scene.”
No one had been arrested. Police were investigating a house robbery and a murder case. Police urged anyone who might have information about the crime to contact them.
Sapa